Beijing 2008 May 13, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : going places, myself , 23 commentsI went to Beijing for work for a week from 4th May to 10th May. This is my 2nd trip to Beijing, the last round was 5 years ago in 2003, where I spent the first 10days touring before starting the week’s work trip. There are more high rises and the Hutongs (胡同) are no where to be found (I heard only a few selected ones were kept and turned into tourist attraction). I’d not seen any one spitting and smoking in public places is now banned (that doesn’t mean people can’t smoke in restaurants though but there’s dedicated smoking area). The air is thick with dust and exhaust fumes, making me cough every time when I walked the 10minutes journey.
We finished work most days between 7:30pm to 8:30pm. I have another 2 colleagues who also went along from Singapore and Hong Kong, and we spent our after work hours shopping, dining and chi chatting. This round, I only managed to do a little shopping because shops including supermarkets close at 9:30pm in most places.
As usual, I took a lot of photos of food which we ate for lunch and dinner. I have to say, Beijing food is rather good and cheaper compared to Malaysia.
Here are the photos…
Tian An Men, the imposing Mao’s portrait. 
Tian An Men square from a far. 
Around Tian An Men. The soldier is not doing a friendly wave, it fact, he was saying “NO” to my camera.. but too late. 
Dishes from 渝乡人家 (Yu Xiang Ren Jia), a Sichuan restaurant; where we had our first dinner organised by the Chinese colleagues, and lunch where my users from my previous program treated me. Pics : fried glutinous rice cake; steam dumpling made with glutinous rice flour; fried flat bread; the spicy but delicious dishes we had for lunch.
On the 2nd night, we had the nicest roast duck in 大董烤鸭店(团结湖店) (Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant). It’s way better than the overly commercialised 全聚德 (Quan Ju De). We found the size of the menu ridiculous though. Look at this.. (notice my watch at the lower right bottom)
The beautiful and delicious dishes : Asparagus Soup with sea urchin; Orange soup; Calamari in salt and pepper; Fried winter bamboo shoot. 
Bean curd; Cod fish with vege; Fried millet (done like fried rice); duck soup 
And the best Beijng Roast Duck. 
All these for RM230.
Group lunch dishes in 娃哈哈 (Wa Ha Ha). Stuff lotus root; shredded bean curd; cold vege; duck soup (so delicious). 
Lunch at 中发宏 (Zhong Fa Hong) : Stir fried vege; Jelly with chili oil (凉粉辣油); Salted egg fried pumpkin; Red bean pan cake.
Lunch at 中发宏 was so good and reasonably priced, we went again on our last day. Duck stew; chicken fried with green chili (Yums!) 
This is the view around the office. Decorated compressor; Rush Hour cyclists; The unfinished CCTV building; Buildings around Chao Yang District (朝阳区). 
On our last day we had dinner at a nice restaurant in an old house with a court yard. Inside 那家小馆 (Na Jia Xiao Guan) 
Roast Duck cold dish; Crispy prawns; Steam sweetened Shanyao (山药); Stir Fried chives, black fungus and egg. 
Fried vege; cod and mango with goose liver sauce; spicy fish pot; and some Dianxin (点心). 
And if all this good food doesn’t appeal to you, you can check out the Olympic food from the stalls in WangFuJin (王府井)…..
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Deep fried Sea Horse and Scorpions 
Deep fried Star Fish 
Deep fried Scorpions, crickets, silk worms, and lizards 
I didn’t bought or try any, and got scolded, “你买不买啊？？你不买就走开.” (Are you buying, if you are not buying get lost). Your cup of tea?
Happy Mother’s Day May 11, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : myself, my two girls, celebration , 23 commentsBefore I was a mother, I’d never known I was able to love and be loved unconditionally, twice all the same.
I’d never known I could hug a sweaty and smelly person, and still feel so much love.
I’d never known I could wipe poop, or pick someone else’ nose so willingly.
Before I was a mother, I’d never known the girls’ achievements meant more to me than my own,
That a hug from a little person could feel so warm, on a tired and stressful day.
That a wet and smelly kiss can be such great pick me ups.
Before I was a mother, I’d never known being a mother is so much work,
That I’ll have less time for myself and my time belongs to the kids’,
And still, I’d do it all over again, if I was given a choice.
♥Happy Mother’s Day to All Mothers and Mothers-to-be!♥
Zaria - 15th month moments May 7, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, language, development , 17 comments
Zaria turned 16 month last week. I captured some of the moments which happened during her 15th month.
She said her first 4 syllabus word = Nani nani (frangipani). She can recognise the flower, and she’ll point to it and say “Nani nani”
Although she’s saying words in abbreviation, i.e. Nana for Banana, Raff for Giraffe, Bra for Zebra, Pard for Leopard. She is beginning to say some of the words in full rather than the short cut version. i.e. Papaya as papaya and not Papa any more.
She starts talking in phrases, e.g.“Take doll doll.” “Give cock-con (pop corn).”
She discovered sugar sachet. Once sucking on it, the pack ripped off and she tasted sugar. “Weet, weet. (sweet sweet)”, and she tried sucking harder to get to the sugar.
She is singing and the tune and words are more ‘audible’.
Old Mac Donalds sounds like “Cow, Eeeya-eeya Yo. Moo there, moo there”
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star sounds like “Ker Ker Star. Up up up up high”
Somewhere Over The Rainbow sounds like “(Some)where..Oh(ver)..(the rain)Bow”
She starts being able to identify a person is masculine of feminine, old or young. Pointing to small girls “Jiejie”, small boys, “korkor”, adult female “Ah-tie (Auntie)”, adult male “Ah-Ker (Uncle)”, elderly lady “Poh Poh”.
She knows how to say some of our names.
“What is Mummy’s name?”
“Neck-Nurse”
“What’s Auntie’s name?”
“Yeh-Lee”
And of course her own “Zah-yah” and Zara’s “Zah-wah”
She can recognise and knows how to address all the family members.
My sister as Yi-yi
My PIL as Yeh-yeh, Ma-ma
My brother and SIL as Ah-Ku and Ah-Tim (Ah Kim)
She started saying “No”.
Zara : “Give jiejie back her Fifi.”
Zaria : “No”
Her vocabulary is pretty extensive, knowing most of the animals, objects at home, differentiating rice, bread, noodle. etc.
She’s very ‘manja’
When she falls or hurt herself, she’ll come over and ask for a hug. “Pain Pain” “Hug Hug”
When I raised my voice on her, she’ll also come over and ask for a hug, “Mummy. Hug Hug.”
She’s becoming very clingy now, preferring me over most people, sometimes even daddy. But still, she’s more of a daddy’s girl than Zara.
May 1st 2008 - Photos May 2, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, Zara , 25 commentsOur weekends mornings are normally filled with activities, i.e. we need to do our marketting, Zara needs to attend class.
Yesterday, a public holiday, we didn’t have anything on in the mornings so we went out for breakfast, and brought the girls to a big field near our place. Zara has this fascination about plucking flowers from the fields, park, anywhere, so this is really for her.
Zaria checking out a big decorative pots in the restaurant we had our breakfast. 
Zaria loves patting flowers, like the character Mr Night, in her book titled Good Night, Mr. Night.
Zara just loves plucking weeds flowers.
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After that, we went to a farm near our place too (you can imagine how ‘ulu’ our place is). This is more for Zaria, to see the cows, turkeys, goats, ducks etc. Zara almost puke because of the stentch from the cow dung. So she stayed with me near the car, while Daddy brought Zaria near the farm. No photos, since I was holding the camera.
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In the evening, we brought them swimming. It has been a while since they last swam. Zaria was clinging on to me, refusing to float on her own. The moment I let her hands go, she’ll be calling “Mummy.. Mummy.”
See the expression on her face, she’s not comfortable when I let her go. 
Zara on the other hand, just swam about on her own, of course staying near to Sam, her favourite cousin. 
Zaria was afraid to be on her own, but she still enjoyed herself. Constantly showing the ‘good’ sign. 
Sam, my niece, splashing down the slide. 
Zara followed suit. 
Weeeeeee………… 
Splash!! 
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After that, it’s off for some ice cream. 
Fun day for the kids, tired day for the parents.
Fall April 28, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, Zara, language , 37 commentsWe went to the Taman Tun park on Saturday. Zaria was very excited and eager to get down from her stroller to walk when we arrived.
We could see she was walking a bit like a drunkard (unstable), probably because she missed her second nap, and wasn’t as alert as she normally is. When she was walking on the tar path, she just tripped and fell, landed on the right side of her face. It happened so quickly, nobody could have dashed to her to catch her in time.
When we picked her up, being a toughie, she cried a bit, pointed to her face and said, “Face.. pain-pain.” She scratched her face, and knocked her forehead, luckily it wasn’t a very deep cut. “Mummy, hug-hug.”, she asked for hugs from every one, and then after that she was ok and playing again.
See the scratch, in the morning after…
If you are wondering what happened to the patch at her lower lip, that’s caused by her saliva constantly soaking that part. She is teething, her lower right molar fully sprouted, and she was salivating a lot from the right corner of her mouth. Then now her upper left and right molars are sprouting, so the salivating hasn’t ended.
I chatted with Zara after Zaria’s accident : Zaria is so brave right?
Zara : I’m also brave wut.
Me : Zaria fell down, such a big scratch on her face, she just cried a little. But if you fall down, even a very small cut, or no cut at all, you will also cry and cry and cry.
Zara : You know or not, my skin is so sensative ma, that’s why I cry. o.O
Naughty Corner April 23, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, parenting, language , 36 commentsZaria is showing behaviour that we’d never seen in Zara. The I-don’t-care-you-better-give-me-what-I-want-or-I’ll-cry behaviour.
Don’t let this angel looking face fool you
When she wants something, and doesn’t get it, she wails, as though she has fallen down or hurt herself.
Sometimes going on all fours, but now being more clever, she’ll just slap her hands on the floor, but not her head.
She immediately switches to a smile the minute what she wanted was given to her. These days, we’ll just distract her with something else or ignore her cry until she stops.
2 days ago, when I was reading to Zara, she moved her buttocks to my lap and tried to push Zara away. Zara was very patient, she just moved aside while I handled Zaria.
Me : Zaria, mummy reading to jiejie. You go and play with your toys.
Zaria : EHHH! Boo-book. (she put her book on top of Zara’s).
Me : Mummy already read so many books to you, now jiejie’s turn (I took her book away and asked Zara to sit back on my lap)
Zaria : Ehh!!! (she slapped Zara’s book)
Me : You sit on mummy’s lap, we read together then.
Zaria : Ehh! (she tore Zara’s book)
Very quickly, I lifted her up, and told her, “Cannot tear book book! You yai-yai (Chinese : naughty). Mummy read to jiejie why you tear jie-jie’s book book? You go to naughty corner then.” Then I put her in her cot and walked back to Zara.
She cried and wailed and screamed. And I just finished reading to Zara, ignoring her. Zara kept throwing glances at Zaria, but didn’t say anything. 3 minutes later, when I’d finished reading to Zara, I picked Zaria up. Immediately, Zaria smiled. *roll eyes*
Me : What happened just now?.
Zaria : Yai yai! (referring to herself) Beat!
Me : No, mummy didn’t beat you. Mummy put you in naughty corner. Why? Because you tear jiejie’s book
Zaria : (she pointed to her cot) (cor)Ner!
Me : Next time cannot tear Jiejie’s book ok?
Zaria : Ten-not (Cannot)
Me : Promise? (I reached out my hand)
Zaria : (she beat it with hers, our way of ‘promising’) (pro)Miss
Now it was Zara’s turn to speak, Say sorry to jiejie.
Zaria : Soyee
To me : Mummy, say sorry to Zaria (for making her cry)
Me : Sorry meimei
Following day, I asked Zaria.
Me : Meimei, remember what happened yesterday?
Zaria : (remem)Ber
Me : You tore jiejie’s book, what did mummy do?
Zaria : (Naughty Cor)Ner! (ha, she remembered!)
Me : Where is your naughty corner
Zaria : Cot. (clever)
Me : Can tear book book or not?
Zaria : Ten-not (Cannot). (pro)Miss (she slapped her hand on mine)
Good, looks like she learnt her lesson. 
Fainted April 21, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zara, parenting, language , 32 commentsZara was having a very bad cough the whole of last week.
On Saturday, we wanted to go to Ikea to get Zaria a mattress for napping. Before we went, we stopped at a coffee shop for a drink. Zara had a big glass of Ribena.
30mins later, we were at Ikeno, and went to Manhattan Fish Market for dinner (Fish & Co still the best!). Zara had the kid size fish and chip, and it came with a glass of orange juice. She ate almost 2/3 of her meal, and drank up the whole glass of orange juice. Jelly couldn’t finish her fish & chips, and we packed it up, and the restaurant gave us a big plastic bag to hold the small styrofoam box.
Zara was coughing quite badly while we walked to Ikea. The girls stopped at the play area near the customer service counters. Suddenly Zara just stood still and started vomiting, two blobs landed on the floor. I managed to quickly put the plastic bag from the take away near her mouth while she continued to throw up. Her puke filled up like 1/8 of the bag. All she cared about after that was, Mummy, my beautiful dress! which she had stained a bit. o.O
After changing her to the spare clothes (which we always bring along for the girls), she was back to her normal self hopping around and checking out things at Ikea. We especially spent a lot of time at the children section where she picked up another Fifi (the soft toy dog) for a hug before we headed downstairs to pick up the mattress.
I was carrying Zaria and we went down the escalator first. Jelly was holding on to Zara’s hand and the light weight pram following behind. Just a few steps down, I heard Jelly shouted, “Zara!”. I turned around and saw Zara missed her footing on the step, and with Jelly pulling her up right, she stood up for a while and then plunged down into a sitting position on the step. Fifi was 2 steps below away from her. I shouted to Zara, “Stand up Zara”. Instead of standing up, she lunged forward, trying to grab the fallen Fifi. Luckily Jelly was holding her firmly, and she didn’t fall. I was screaming, “Zara, leave Fifi!”. Zara still tried to lunge forward. Jelly very quickly kicked Fifi away, so that Zara stopped attempting to pick it up.
2 seconds later, we’d all got out of the escalator. I dragged Zara to the side and asked her, “Zara, what was wrong with you!!?? Why didn’t you stand properly. I told you many times don’t fool around on escalators. Why did you want to pick Fifi up? What you did was very dangerous!” blah blah blah. Then I saw her face turning pale. I calmed down, and realised I didn’t check how she was. I gave her a big hug and told her I was so worried (actually, I probably missed a few heart beats thinking Zara was going to fall), and asked her what happened. She spoke weakly and said she wanted to sit on the pram. After putting her in the pram, she sobbed a bit and looked as though she was about to go to sleep. So I asked her gently again. She said, “Just now I was so tired and my leg just went soft.” Jelly then only spoke up (she’s not someone who offers information freely) “Mum, I hold her mum, and then she just fall mum. Like no more streght mum.”
Zara was in the pram looking pale and her eyes half closed. I kept stopping and checking with her if she was ok. She said, “Mummy, I’m just very tired. I want to sleep.” I then realised she might have fainted because of her earlier vomiting. I asked her if she wanted something to eat, she asked for sweets. We’d none but I told her I’d go grab a donut for her. I quickly paid for the mattress then headed out to get her something to eat. She asked for pop corn when she saw them. The colour on her face return as she started eating, and then she started telling me, “Just now mummy, when I stepped on the escalator, I feel dizzy. So my legs just went wobbly.”
I kept reminding her about her safety being more important than a toy, and it’s ok to loose a toy because we can always buy another for her. I knew she was back to herself when she told me, “If no more Fifi, mummy can buy another for me. If no more Zara, then Daddy and mummy have to get married again. And then Daddy and mummy will have a new step daughter.”
That’s my girl and her logic.
Princess Zara April 18, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zara, language, development , 24 commentsMe : Zara, what do you want to be when you grow up? Doctor? Teacher? Chef?
Zara : When I grow up I want to be a real princess.
Neighbours were talking about sending their girls (around the age of Zara for ballet).
Me : Zara, Chloe and Erin will be going for ballet classes soon. You want to learn ballet or not?
Zara : I don’t want mummy. I want to learn princessing.
Daddy asked about Zara’s sunglasses, “Zara, why you put your sunglasses at home? You should leave it in the car. When it’s sunny, then you can put it on.”
Zara replied, “Daddy, if it’s sunny, I don’t want to wear my sunglasses.”
Daddy asked “But why?”
Zara replied rolling her eyes, “Do you see princess wear sunglasses one or not?” (obviously not those Disney princesses)
The other day when I read Beauty & The Beast to her and when we reached the ending, which read, “She kissed him.. blah blah.. She sobbed, “I love you!”.. blah blah.. the beast turned into the handsome prince.. blah blah.”
Zara smiled shyly and asked, “Next time when I big girl, I will also meet my handsome prince right? And then we’ll get married right?”
My princess Zara
Since Zara turned 2 1/2, she’s very much into princesses. Her enthusiasm increases with time. I wonder when this stage will pass. I was told, I should bring her to Disneyland before she passes this stage, so that she’ll enjoy herself more. Hmmm….
Zaria’s Speech - close to 16 months April 16, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, language, development , 15 commentsThis is almost the same everyday at our dinner table. Zaria will eat half heartedly, and then after a few spoonful, she’ll start spiting her dinner out. “Pow-Pow! (Chinese: Full)”.
“You don’t want any more?”
“No-want. (Don’t want)”
But then, when we put her down from her high chair, she’ll go straight to the fridge, and shout, “Khuet!! (Chocolate)”; she’ll keep saying “Khuet!” until we give her her doze of chocolate or something else to distract her.
Zaria knows now when she needs things done she’ll go to Jelly.
Once she was trying to take a few pieces of clothings down from my cupboard, but the whole stack came tumbling down. I was next to her, but she went on to look for Jelly, shouting “Ah-tie (Auntie)! Ah-tie! (Put) Back! *pointing to the cupboard* Back!”.
And when she wants her bath, she’ll be shouting “Ah-tie (Auntie)! Ah-tie! Ba-Bath! Ba-Bath!”
I tried asking her, “You like Auntie?”
She replies with her index finger out “Good!” (meaning her Auntie is good, so she likes her Auntie).
When she gets hold of a pair of shoes, a hat, or watch, or even a hair clip, she’ll come to us with the item placed on where it belongs (i.e. place hair clip on the head) “Wear.”
She knows how to correct us when we name something wrongly. E.g. *pointing to my BIL* “Mei-mei, is this Daddy?”. She’ll smile and shake her index finger, “No-no, no-no Daddy. (He is)Uncle “
Of all the things Zaria says, Daddy is most pleased with Zaria constant chanting of “Daddy-DaddEEE..Daddy-DaddEEE” when he’s around. I tried to get her to say Mummy-mummeeee.. Mummy-mummee, but she’ll only be able to say “Mummy” and not like she calls Daddy “Daddy-DaddEEE..Daddy-DaddEEE”.
Weaning - Zaria April 14, 2008
Posted by Zara's Mama in : Zaria, development, breastfeeding , 27 commentsFrom this…..
to this….
After 1 year and 3 months of breastfeeding Zaria, it’s slowly coming to the end. After my Hong Kong trip, my milk supply dwindled. Not sure if it’s from the stress, or it’s really time to wean her. She started taking half bottle and half breast. She will go to Daddy or Jelly to ask for “Mek (Milk)” when she wants the bottle, and if it’s breast she wanted, she’ll come to me.
She wants breast mainly during the night, or when she wants to do this to me…
This girl likes to poke my belly button when she suckles, and it’s really not comfortable for me at all especially if her nails are not trimmed!!
Sometimes when the breast is not available, she’ll be poking her own belly button instead.. o.O”
While Zara weaned off at 18 months and I wanted to do as long with Zaria, looks like the travellings and the pressure from work is not in our favour. Everybody is telling me it’s high time. Ha.. I’ll stop when the time comes, i.e. when she really doesn’t want it any more because she’s not getting anything.
